Some children face challenges while performing the day-to-day task that does not typically affect other developing children. For example, they might struggle to reach developmental milestones like crawling, walking, etc. They also tend to avoid playing games or performing tasks that require fine motor skills, have difficulties copying from the board, recognizing letters, understanding basic concepts like right, and left, and so on. In fact, holding a pencil, using zippers, or coloring a simple shape might seem a big deal for them. Thankfully, Occupational Therapy (OT)can help such babies and permit them to gain better control in all areas of their lives.
In this post, we will discuss how OT can help special children but before we jump to that, let us understand occupational therapy first. Well OT is a specialized medical health care practice that helps individuals who have physical, cognitive, or sensory problems. Occupational therapy for children helps patients improve their school performance and empowers them to perform daily activities at home and other communities. OT also plays a significant role in boosting the sense of accomplishment and self-esteem among children.
How It Works
The best occupational therapists in Dubai or other cities tailor their therapeutic approach according to each child’s needs. They start by looking at the strengths and challenges of each patient. After that, the therapist develops a holistic program, combined with goal-oriented exercises and activities that improve motor skills. For example, exercises like jumping jacks enhance gross motor skills, activities like picking things with forceps improve fine motor skills. Let us suppose a child has issues with motor planning. In that case, a therapist might give him a routine exercise like getting dressed. Occupational therapy helps kids:
- Develop fine motor skills so they can hold items, grow computer skills, improve handwriting, etc.
- Master the basic life skills like brushing teeth, bathing, self-feeding, etc.
- Learn social skills and positive behaviors
- Manage anger and frustration
- Level up hand-eye coordination so they can copy text from the computer screen or the blackboard, hit a ball with a bat, etc.
Who Might Need Pediatric Occupational Therapy?
Pediatric occupational therapy can help kids who have:
- Sensory processing disorders
- Autism
- Birth injuries
- Congenital disabilities
- Traumatic injuries to the spinal cord or brain
- Behavioral problems
- Developmental delays
- Juvenile rheumatoid arthritis
- Post-surgical issues
- Spina bifida
- Traumatic amputations
- Chronic illnesses like cerebral palsy, multiple sclerosis, etc.
- Some sort of mental health problems
- Learning problems
- Orthopedic injuries like broken bones
- Serious injuries in hand etc.
Schedule Therapy for Your Child Now
We hope that the concept of occupational therapy and its working principles are now clear to you. Besides, we have also discussed who needs OT. So don’t delay scheduling OT for your child if he is suffering from any aforementioned conditions. Hope Abilitation Medical Center is the highest-rated clinic in Dubai, offering goal-oriented pediatric occupational therapy and helping kids gain independence in life. All our therapists are well trained and experienced. Most importantly, they are committed to making every effort to help patients achieve their well-being. Schedule a session now and let our therapists help your little one break the barriers which are affecting his physical, psychological, social, and emotional needs.
